asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that young unemployed workers who become ill are informed that during the period of their illness they are entitled to social security, instead of leaving them in many cases in ignorance of the fact and merely with a refusal of sickness benefit because of an insufficiency of contributions.

I have no reason to believe that such persons generally are not aware that they may claim supplementary benefit. Notifications that sickness benefit is not payable specifically draw attention to the point.